Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - The Africa Progress Panel (APP), a group of leaders that monitors and promotes mutual accountability for progress in the continent, has welcomed this year’s G8 focus on Africa at the just-ended Deauville Summit. In a statement, made available to PANA here Tuesday, the panel expressed pleasure to see the summit’s renewed commitment to and continued partnership with Africa. “We were assured by President (Nicholas) Sarkozy in February 2011 that Africa would be on the G8’s agenda throughout the French Presidency,” said the panel, chaired by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

“In response to the Deauville Summit, the APP agrees that the focus on freedom and democracy is both very timely and highly relevant,” said the statement, noting the G8’s declaration on the issue and the G8/Africa Joint Declaration on ‘Shared Values, Shared Responsibilities’.

In particular, the APP said it was concerned with how these issues relate to governance and development in Africa and in that respect, welcomed the G8’s commitment to Egypt and Tunisia of up to US$ 20 billion in 2011-2013 from multilateral development banks 'in support of suitable reform efforts,' including 3.5 billion euros (US$4.9 billion) from the European Investment Bank. 

“We hope this promise is followed through transparently and tracked effectively,” the panel underlined.

On the global economy, the APP emphasised its stance that Africa must be seen as part of the solution and welcomed the G8’s recognition that development was “a common challenge” and the joint statement’s acknowledgement that “the challenge today is to build on the current and positive dynamic of the African economy to achieve a more inclusive, shared and sustainable
growth that creates jobs, ensures human security and empowers individuals, especially the younger generation.”

The APP believes that the fundamentals required to meet this challenge are, first, to provide Africa with a level-playing field and second, to ensure that the Doha Development Round is concluded.

“We are encouraged by the G8’s reiteration of its ‘commitment to advance the process of trade liberalization and rule-making to strengthen the multilateral system’ and we hope to see concrete action in that direction,” said the APP, urging the G8 members to work to build momentum behind these vital changes.

On Official Development Assistance (ODA), the APP said it agreed that “ODA is a significant element of financing for development, among other resources, particularly domestic resources, innovative financing, remittances, market instruments used by development banks and private sector flows” and welcome the G8’s commitment to “strive to maintain our efforts” on ODA.

However, despite an overall increase in the total volume of aid delivered to Africa, the APP pointed out that only 62 per cent of the 2005 Gleneagles commitments have been collectively delivered to date.

“The G8 has not yet delivered on its pledges and as long as these unfulfilled promises persist, the credibility of such commitments will be in doubt,” the panel cautioned.

On food security, the APP expressed appreciation for President Sarkozy’s decision to keep the issue on the table during the French G8 Presidency but it stressed that it is vital the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative commitments made in 2009 are met.

The G8 countries and others have pledged to mobilise more than US$ 20 billion over three years but to date, according to the Deauville Accountability Report, only half these pledges have been delivered.

“Once again, it is imperative the G8 countries honour their commitments. People’s lives depend on it and if they fail, the legitimacy of the G8 as a global player will be further questioned,” said APP, adding that holding the G8 countries to account for their commitments remains imperative.

The Deauville Accountability Report, released 18 May, which closely tracks delivery against health and food security commitments, was a step in the right direction, according to the panel.

However, APP has joined the G8 in acknowledging that more can be done to increase effectiveness and accountability as it urged the G8 countries to do more in future to provide clear, measurable and realistic commitments. 

“The continuing confusion and debate around the exact calculation of aid figures does little to help solve development problems on the ground – and better measurement can put an end to those debates,” said the panel.

For accountability measures to work and reach the solid credibility they require, APP suggested that all key stakeholders should be involved.

Involving key civil society players through an open consultation process would be a strong starting point.

Though processes that lead to greater accountability are complex, APP said that should not be an excuse for inaction. 

“As we stated in the Africa Progress Report 2011, partnerships hold real potential to contribute to these processes. The G8 as a grouping and each individual country can play a crucial role in establishing successful partnerships that ensure greater accountability and mutual responsibility.

“It is clear that global development goals will only be achieved through partnership. Working in partnership is a means not only to accelerate development, but also to bring in new or non-traditional development actors, leverage comparative advantages and draw on fresh knowledge and outside resources,” said the panel.

“The panel is hopeful the United States will continue to develop and build the G8’s partnership with Africa as it takes on the next G8 Presidency – driving the group to meet all its commitments and ensuring concrete action follows from the promises made last week at Deauville,” it said.

The work of the panel aims to track progress and draw attention to critical issues and opportunities for progress in Africa.

Pana 01/06/2011